Apparatus for grinding or polishing flat glass



May 6, 1958 TQUVAY 2,833,090

APPARATUS FOR GRINDING 0R POLISHING FLAT GLASS Filed Dec. 6, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Ma Attorney;

R. TOUVAY May 6, 1958 APPARATUS FOR GRINDING OR POLISHING FLAT GLASS Filed Dec. 6. l954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3.

33 36 n: HIE s= -B'-= s= E= APPARATUS FOR GRINDING OR POLISl-HNG FLAT GLASS Robert Touvay, Paris, France, assignorto SocieteAnonyme des Manufactures desGlaces et. Produits Chimiques de St. Gobain, Chauny & Cirey, Paris, France, a French company Application December 6,1954, Serial No. 473,350

Claims priority, application France December 9, 1953 1 Claim. (Cl.51'112) This invention relates to apparatus for grinding or polishingfiat glass, in particulareapparatus for simultaneously surfacing (grinding or polishing) both faces of a'horizontal ribbon'of glass. 7

A main object of the present inventionis to devise a novel support for the co-aXial surfacing tools (grinders or polishers) so that a more regular and uniform work is achieved, than has heretofore been obtained by the surfacing elements of the co-axial tools, on the ribbon.

A further main object of the invention is to devise a support for the surfacing tools which can be moved bodily with the tools from the ribbon and in the movement present ,to the underface of the ribbon a temporary supportover the areas engaged by the surfacing elements operating on the underface of the ribbon before the tools are moved away from the path .of the ribbon.

Apparatus for grinding and polishing flat glass adapted tooperateon both surfaces or a ribbon of glass in accordance with the invention is characterized by the coaxial pairs of tools'being mounted'in a structurally continuous frame intheshape- ,of 'a closed flattened loop forming arrigid ring-like unit through which .;the ribbon is advanced. 'The frame unit so constructed absorbs the reactions to which the tools are subjected and the vibrations which may be developed.

Preferably the ring-like unit is constituted by two similarly dimensioned upper and lower components, each comprising a horizontal beam and vertical column elements at each end of the beam, which components are bolted together at the junction of the column elements to form the continuous ring-like structure.

By uniting the two components of the continuous ringlike unit to form an integral whole the upper and lower tools of the apparatus are virtually mounted in a single continuous unit structure, which arrangement permits an absorbtion of the reactions to which the tools are subjected and of the vibrations which may be developed as a result of synchronized rotation of the co-axial tools, and by the absorption of the reactions and vibrations a more regular and uniform work from the tools can be achieved.

A ring-like unit structure constructed according to the present invention may comprise lateral supports which ride on bearing surfaces so that the unit with the co-axial surfacing tools mounted in it may be bodily moved transversely of the ribbon, the beam portions of the unit having a length such that a bodily movement of the unit is permitted which enables the coaxial tools to be disposed at the side of the ribbon of glass to allow access to the surfacing elements of the tools.

In such form of unit structure the beam in the lower component preferably carries a support for the ribbon, v

a From the foregoing it will be observed that a unitary structure in accordance with the invention may, in addition, be a means of achieving a more regular and uniform work from the surfacing tools, permit ready access to the tools and simultaneously prevent the ribbon from sagging when the bottom tools of co-axial pairs are displaced from the ribbon, by presenting to the end face of the ribbon a temporary support.

.In order that the invention may be more clearly understood one preferred embodiment will now be described, byway of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows in elevation a continuous ring-like supporting unit, slidable in the direction of itslength, for the co-axial tools of apparatus for simultaneously treating both surfaces of a moving ribbon of glass.

Fig. 2 is an end viewof the construction shown in Fig. 1, taken from the right hand side thereof, and

Fig. 3 is a plan view ,on a larger scale showing the relation between the bottom grinders and the temporary support for the ribbon of glass.

'In the drawings like references designate the same parts.

The ring-like supporting structure for the co-axial tools of the apparatus in the embodiment illustrated forms a closed loop and comprises two similar components rgenerally identified by the references 1, 1, the components .includingbeams 2, 2, merging into short columns 3, 4,

terminating inflanges 5, 6, which are bolted together as indicated by the centrelines of the bolts 7, 8. Thus a continuous ring-like support is formed through which a ribbon of glass 9 is advanced by the usual pairs of driving rollers 10. The beams 2 of the ring-like structure eachinclude a head 11 in which are .mounted co-axial "hollow driving spindles 14, 15 to whichv are secured coring form carries the co-axial surfacing elements, the

motor and the common driving shaft for the spindles of the tools, and this solid structure of continuous ring form, through which the ribbon passes, is adapted to absorb reactions and vibrations of the synchronously driven tools, thus assuring regular and uniform work from the surfacing elements 16, 17.

As most clearly shown in Fig. l the length of the beams 2 is more than twice the width of the ribbon 9, so that the whole apparatus, tools and motor can be displaced in a longitudinal direction to move the tools to one side of the ribbon for ready access thereto. To this end the lower beam 2 is formed with lateral supports 26 serving as runners which ride on box guides 27 serving as rails carried on girders 28 supported on a substructure indicated at 29 bedded on a floor surface indicated at 30. Accordingly the Whole continuous ringlike unit 1, 1, and the operating components mounted thereon can be slid bodily on the box guides 27, 27 to displace the tools to inoperative position to the left of the ribbon 9 as viewed in Fig. 1.

In order that that part of the ribbon, which rested on the lower tools 16 and 17 before the unit is moved, can be supported as they are removed, the lower beam 2 is provided with a temporary support disposed within the unit for the ribbon, which support comprises a base plate 31, suitably secured to the lower beam in which base plate are mounted rows of castors 32 (see Fig. 3)

the pintles 33'of the castors riding in sockets in the base plate as will'be readily understood, so that the rollers of the casters can easily swivel about their pintles and thereby otter minimum resistance to the-moving. glass ribbon as the temporary support ,is presented thereto, as thering-like structure is'moved bodily on the box guides 27.. i I

The plane which is tangent to all the castors is either tangent also, to the lower drivingrollers of the driving pairs 10, or closely parallel thereto. 1

In known manner the driving spindles 14 and 15 of the tools are axially displaceable so that the surfacing elements 16, 17 can be retracted somewhat from the'ribbon before the continuous ring-like unit 1, 1, is displaced as already described in the guides 27, and of course for adjustment from time to time to take up wear.

The feeding of'liquid abrasive suspension to the surfacing elements '16, 17, takes place in known manner through'the hollow spindles 14, 15, the feed lines being generally indicated at 34, 35 and 36;

From the foregoing it will be readily appreciated that the upper componentz of the continuous unit 1, 1 can be unbolted from the lower component and repairs easily efiected without disturbing the run'of the ribbon 9, which can continue either over the lower surfacing elements 16, 17, or over the castors 32. Moreover a relatively simple installation is obtained which is easy to erect.

Although the surfacing elements are exemplified as grinding elements clearly'glass polishing elements of conventional form can be substituted and further the elements 1, 1 of the ring-like unit can be subdivided as will be well understood in producing a continuous flattened ring support for the tools and through which the ribbon is passed in accordance with the invention.

I claim: 1

An apparatus for surfacing flat glass in ribbon form comprising an endless continuous rigid frame in the form of a closed loop encompassing a space and comprising similar upper and lower components, each component comprising a substantially horizontal beam and substan- 1 4 tially vertical column elements at opposite ends of the beam, upper and lower surfacing tools located in said space and mounted on said beams for operating simultaneously on the upper and lower surfaces of the ribbon, means for advancing the ribbon lengthwise in a substantially horizontal-plane through said space in a direction surrounded by the frame, means supporting and guiding said frame for movement with said tools substantially horizontally transverse to the path of travel of the ribbon, said frame providing a clearance in said space on the side of the path of travel of the ribbon to receive the ribbon and to cause the tools to occupy an inoperative position on the side of the ribbon upon displacement of the frame substantially horizontally transverse to the path of travel of the ribbon, a support for the ribbon disposed in said clearance and having roll elements mounted on substantially horizontal axes extendible substantially parallel to the path of travel of the ribbon and located substantially at the support level of the ribbon, said support being secured to said frame for substantially horizontal movement therewith to cause said roll ele-t ments to move underneath the ribbon to support the ribbon as the frame is displaced transverse to the path of travel of the ribbon and the tools are moved therewith towards inoperative position towards the side of the ribbon.

References Cited in the file of this'patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

